Cleaning device for coal breakers



Feb. 11, 1930.

J. A. PLLIMPTON CLEANING DEVICE FOR COAL BREAKERS Filed July 6, i928 2 Sheets-Sheet l fifi' CLEANING DEVICEl FOR COAL BREAKERS Filed July e, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 00090009000 1 C)0Q0G000Q00 000000 i `09000 0Q00 g VV mvENToR:

Inf

Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATIES `.roi-12N ALBEN PLIMPTON, or WINNETKA,

GRUSHER COMPANY, or New YORK, N. Y.,'A c'oRronATIoN or' New Yom! CLEANING DEVICE FOR COAL BREAKERS Application `filed July 6, 1-!-3-.8.` Serial No. 290,744.V

i My invention relates to coal breaking appaas those set forth inthe patent of Bort-on and `Hiller No. 1,086,129, and/or the patent of Hiller, No. 1,332,568; such apparatus comprising a rotating cylinder having `a foraminous wall which may be made up of a plurality of apertured plates of the type `set forth in the Lpatent of Doerres, No. 1,563,17 3, connected to longitudinal members disposed between circular end frames.

In the operation of these structures, run

of-mine coal is dumped into o-ne end of the cylinder constituting the breaker, which is slowly rotated. This cylinder is provided with shelves extending longitudinally of the same, so that coal dumped into the same will be carried up by such shelves until it lreaches a point near the upper portion of the cylinder, whereupon it discharges therefrom; the impact of the falling coal upon the pla-tesof the lower part of 4the cylinder 'breaking `it into desired sizes which pass through the apertured plates making up the cylindrical wall of ythebreaker structure. i

In the operation of handling coal it is frequently in a wet condition and being run-ofmine, it contains `a considerable r,portion of fines. Under normal conditions and assuming the coal to be relatively dry, these fines should discharge through the apertured plates adjacent the point of feed; the vlarger pieces of coal being successively carried up by the shelves and passed forward for fracture atsome subsequent portion ofthe cylindrical structure; producing a minimum quantity of fineswhich readily pass out through the apertured plates. p If the coal is wet, however, the fines have a tendency to stickto the walls of the respective apertures and despite theshock occasioned by the delivery and the discharge of coal carried up by t-he shelves, these apertures will remain clogged. The result of this is to cause the fines to progres-v sively feed along with the larger lumps and in time, unless prevented, fill other apertures throughout the extentof the several screen plates. i i

The object of invention is tofprovide means 'for keeping the apertures of "the sev eral plates substantially open at -all times in order that the fines delivered with the feed may Vbe `quickly and readily discharged.

A further object of my invention is to provide `punching means for keeping the apertures of the several plates open.

A -further object of my invention is to provide a series of pins carried Aby suitable supporti-ng means and arranged to register with certain or all of the apertures of the plates and so disposed as to Aenter said apertures Vduringcertain periods inthe travel of the breaker structure, which means are brought `into operative position periodically during the rotation of the breaking structure.

And-a still further object of my invention is to provide punching devices for this purrpose comprising plates pivota-lly hung from fthe external wall of the breaker structure and carrying `pins registering with the apertures of the plates7 and so disposed as -to periodically drop into position to break out-any accumulation of fines as the breaker structure rotates; such hinged devices -automatically dropping away from their punching position and permitting discharge of fines when passing the lowermost point in the rotative movement ofthe cylinder.

These and other features'of my invention are more fully described hereinafter; ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is a cross sectional elevation of a coal breaker of the Bradford type,fto which the punching devices forming `the subject of my invention may be applied. y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional `view of one of the punching devices shown inFig. 1`

'Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are views illustrating details inside.

bearings 6, and these bearings may be hung from beams or girders 7, (one of which is shown) supported in any suitable manner.

Extending longitudinally between the head members 5, which may be in the form of truncated cones, are longitudinal supporting members 10, to which the screen plates 11 are secured, and the ends of these supporting members may be secured in socket plates 12, suitably secured to said hea-d structures 5, or said socket plates may be formed integral therewith. The longitudinal supporting members 10 may be of I-shape or other suitable cross section (railroad rails being shown in the present instance), with the web set radially with respect to the axis of rotation, and it is to the inwardly disposed flanges 10a of said longitudinal supporting members 10 that the screen plates 11 are secured; the surface of such anges being normal to the axis of rotation.

The screen plates, indicated at 11, may be of any convenient size, usually about thirty inches square, and provided with perforations or apertures 11, whose size is dependent upon the work the screen is to accomplish. In practice, these apertures are slightly larger on the outside of the plates than on the These plates may be flat throughout their screening extent with slightly turned edge portions or anges 11", whose angle with respect tothe flat surface of the major portion 'of the screen plate accords with the angle of the flanges of the supporting members to which said plates are secured. These screen plat-es may be so mounted and secured to the longitudinal members 10 that each succeeding plate overlies or underlies the preceding one to the extent of the flanges of the supporting members to which they are secured by suitable bolts and nuts. The plates illustrated in the drawings are of the type disclosed in the patent of Doerres above referred to.

These cylindrical breaker kstructures are' made up of a series of rings of apertured plates secured to the longitudinal members, as clearly set fort-h in the patents of Borton and Hiller, and Hiller; Nos. 1,086,129, and 1,322,568, respectively, above referred to, and the first ring of plates (or the first and second rings) usually discharge the fines accompanying coal fed into the breaker for the desired reduction by impact. 1f the coal wet the apertures of these plates tend to `become clogged with the fines and in time,

i unless these apertures are cleared, the clogging progresses until the efficiency of the breaker 1s greatly impaired; the area of discharge for the broken coal being greatly cut' n down.

The object of my invention is to provide meansfor keeping the apertures of the plates vopen at all times for the free and expeditious discharge of the fines-wet or dry. vTo this end I provide clearing means in the form of punch plates indicated at 15, which may be carried by arms or brackets 16 having ears which may be pivotally connected by bolts 17 to the longitudinal supporting members 10. The plates 15 carry suitable punch members which may be in the -lorm ol projecting pins or rivets 18, secured to said plates 15 in any usual manner; other forms of punching elements being indicated in the several views.

The punch plates may be carried by the goose-neck brackets 16, which have ears 19, litting between similar ears 20, carried by fish plate members 21, secured by bolts 22 to the longitudinal supporting members 10. r1`he punch plate brackets are pivotally hung on the bolts 17, and the several punch plates with the pins or projections constituting the cleaning devices may swing into and out o't' operative position with respect to the apertured plates on said pivot pins. The punch plates are so arranged that the punch members carried thereby, whether of a suliicient number to clear all the apertures of a plate, or only for a certain number of apertures, shall be in proper' registry with the several apertures to be cleaned.

The form of punching device illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises a plate 15, having bracket elements 16L connected thereto with ears 19 for the reception of a bolt or pivot pin 17a coupling the same to the ears 20a of a lish plate 21,which construction may be employed in lieu of the bracket mounting illustrated in Fig. 2.

The punch elements 18a may be secured to the plate 15EL in any suitable manner, being riveted thereto or threaded into said plate, as may be desired. This structure differs from that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in that the pivotal connection for the punch plate is toward the breaker plate it is intended to operate upon as distinguished from the arrangement indicated in the other views of the drawing wherein goose-neck brackets are provided which overlie the longitudinal supporting members 10. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, and by reason of the disposition of the pivotal connection for the punch plate disclosed therein, only certain of the breaker plate apertures may be punched; a group furthest from said pivotal connection, which may be suiicient Jf'or all practical purposes, in many instances. The punch elements shown in Fig. et are pointed. Other forms of punch elements may be employed. and that shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a chisel edge.

The punch plates are preferably disposed on the breaker drum in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, wherein every other plate of an annular ring of plates making up the wall of Vthe breaker drum is shown as provided with one. Each'plate of the breaker-wall may be provided with a punch plate, however, With- Maaate terior of the breaker drum is provided With a series of lifting shelves, indicated at 24,

and the several punch plates mounted exteriorly of the V'drum are disposed relatively thereto; each punch plate being immediately ahead of a lifting shelf.

During the operation of the breaker, the punch plates turn on their pivotal supports and gradually swing toward the apertured plates; causing the punches to enter the apertures of the same-and clean them of their accumulated fines. As they pass beyond the high point of the breaker, they swing' away from their operative position and'by preference, I provide each bracket With a stop, indicated at 25. This stop may serve as a shock absorber and may be in the shape of a block of tough rubber or similar material indicated at 26, Fig. 4. This stop may be carried by the members l0, or by the brackets 16 or 16a, in such position as to avoid any shock or injury to the plates of the breaker or the punch plates, and prevent any distortion of the punch plates. In lieu of this arrangement,

the free ends of the punch plates may be Yhung fromthe longitudinal supporting members by suitable chains, one of Which is indicated at 27, Which would serve to limit the opening movement as said punch plates swing aivayfrom the plates ofthe breaker, and

avoid unnecessary shock or strain.

It Will be understood, of cou-rse, that the punch plates forming the subject of my invention may be employed with theform of curved plates illustrated in the breaker structures of the Borton and Hiller, and Hiller patents, referred to, and that the punch platesl so employed may be curved to properly engage the surface of such plates and be pro- `vided with punch elements arranged toregister with the apertures thereof and effect the desired displacement of lines collecting therein.

I claim:

l. A cleaning device for the apertures of coal breaker plates comprising a series of punches arranged to swing into and out of -reistr With said a Jertures.

2. A cleaning 'device for the apertures of coal breaker plates comprising a supporting member, punch elements carried thereby for registry With the apertures of said breaker plates, and a bracket pivotally connected to the breaker to Which said supportingmember is secured.

3. A cleaning device for the apertures of coal breaker plates comprising a plate, punch elements distributed throughout the surface of said plate and arranged for registry With the apertures of said breaker plates, and a bracket pivotally connected to the breaker structure to Which said plate is secured.

4. A cleaning 4device for ,the apertures of coal breaker plates comprising a broad-faced supporting member, punch elements distributed throughout the surface of' said supporting member for registry with the-apertures of said breaker plates, and bracket means pivotally connected to the breaker structureto which said supporting member is secured.

5. The combination With a `coal breaker comprising circular end frames, longitudinal members secured to. saidendvframes and apertured plates secured to said longitudinal members in annular relation, of bracket means pivotally connected to said longitudinal members, and a series of punch elements carried by said bracket means for registry With the apertures of said breaker plates.

6. The combination With a coal breaker comprising circular end frames, longitudinal members secured to said end frames and apertured plates secured to said longitudinal members, of bracket means pivotally connected to said longitudinal members and adapted to swing toward and from said apertured plates, plates carried by said bracket means, and a series of punch ele` ments carried by said bracket-supported plates and arrangled to register with the apertures of said breaker plates.

7 The combination with a coal breaker comprising circular end frames, longitudinalf l members secured thereto and apertured plates secured to said longitudinal members, of a series of broad-faced supporting members pivotally connected to said longitudinal members, and punch elements carried by said;

. secured to said longitudinal members, of a series of brackets pivotally connected to said longitudinal members and adapted tosvving toward and from said apertured plates, broad-faced supporting members carried by siad brackets, and punch elements carried by said broad-faced supporting members and arranged for registry with the apertures of the respective breaker plates.

9. The combination with a coal breaker comprising circular end frames, longitudinal members secured to said end frames and apertured plates secured to said longitudinal members, of brackets pivotally connected t0, said longitudinal members, a series of punch elements carried by said brackets and arranged for registry with the apertures of said breaker plates, and means for limiting themovement of said punch elements with. respect to the breaker structure.

10. The combination with a coal breaker comprising circular end frames, longitudinal members secured to said end frames and apert-ured plates secured to said longitudinali members,A of'brackets ivotally connected to said longitudinal mem ers, a series of punch elements carried by said brackets for registry with the apertures of said breaker plates, and cushioning means between the breaker structure and said punch elements.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification.

JOHN ALDEN PLIMPTON. 

